Members of the East and Southern Africa Harm Reduction Reporters Initiative during the workshop on Tobacco Harm Reduction at Naivasha Kenya.

In a push to provide a new frontier to a smoke free world, key stakeholders in the tobacco industry held a workshop in Naivasha – Kenya to discuss how new technologies can reduce tobacco harm and accelerate the journey to a smoke-free world.

The conference had representation from 14 African countries and provided the stakeholders with an opportunity to engage in open conversation and debate about the future of the industry and how tobacco companies can embrace technology and innovations to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and wellbeing by offering practical smoke-free alternatives to smokers.

Ade Adeyami, Founder and President, Leadership Impact Dynamics, told the conference that alternatives to cigarette smoking can create a big impact on health in society.

“Given the undisputed harm caused by cigarettes on human health, the potential negative impacts of e-cigarettes are certainly pale by comparison as there is no tar in e-cigarettes. Stakeholders in the industry must offer alternative products as an important smoking cessation tool. We believe we can have a big impact on public health by promoting alternatives to smoking cigarettes”, added Mr. Ade Adeyami.

On her part Dr. Tendai Kadenhe Mhizha, Continental lecturer and a permanent member of the Gordon Institute of Business Science -­‐ University of Pretoria faculty said that society expects tobacco industry players to act responsibly and by having such a conference, some players are providing a primary roadmap to a smoke-free future.

“The tobacco industry understands the millions of men and women who smoke cigarettes are looking for less harmful, yet satisfying, alternatives to smoking. E-cigarettes don’t contain tar that is harmful to many humans, but still offers the rituals of smoking that consumers have become accustomed to and value,” she added.

A new generation of alternative tobacco products could offer a breakthrough for harm reduction, appealing to smokers, in a time where current anti-smoking campaigns are considerably not cutting through.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over a billion people currently smoke cigarettes, and this number is projected to remain largely unchanged by 2025. Globally 7 Million people die from tobacco annually despite the efforts of the anti- tobacco agencies and world-wide anti-smoking campaigns.

KFM radio presenters Arthur and Connie. NMG announced the immediate closure of the Radio.

There was an abrupt shock across the country after signals of 98.7 Kfm Radio went off after Rwanda Today show hosted by Ange Soubirous Tambineza. Most listeners thought itâ€s a normal signal loss.

But a few hours later, a release from Nation Media Group, the owners of the Radio announced the immediate closure of the Radio.

According, the group the closure which is affecting the companyâ€s radios in Kenya and Rwanda is aimed transforming the media house into a 21st century digital content company embracing a digital/mobile business model.

â€œIn the past few months, we have embarked on implementing a new strategic direction that ensures we secure our current business and position of the organization to win in the future,â€ said Clifford Machoka, head of corporate and regulatory affairs.

To achieve this, Clifford says the organization decided to rationalize its broadcasting division consolidating their two television (NTV and NTV Uganda) stations into a one multi lingual station including permanent shutdown of radio stations.

â€œWe are also scaling down our traditional radio business in Kenya (NationFM, Qfm) and Rwanda (KFM),â€ he said in a statement.

He adds, â€œWe will keep a live signal and maintain our online presence in line with our digital strategy,â€ allaying fears that the company plans to pullout of Rwanda business completely.

The closure which follows last yearâ€s laying off of some staff at both radio and Newspaper section in Rwanda is likely to affect over 15 employees who have been working on the radio, with Clifford emphasizing they will support them in the process.

â€œWe will strive to provide all necessary support to help them manage through this transition,â€ he said.

Apart from the radio, the company runs Rwanda Today, a print and online newspaper for Rwanda and the East African which will keep running.

First Lady Jeannette Kagame joined her counterpart H.E. Mrs Sylvia Ondimba Bongo for the celebration of the International Widows’ Day, in Libreville on 23 June 2016. Here, they also toured ‘Ruban Vert’, an international school founded by Mrs. Sylvia Ondimba Bongo.

The international community needs to redouble efforts aimed at aiding the millions of widows â€“ whose numbers keep growing amid a â€œmultiplication of conflicts around the world,â€ say the First Ladies of Rwanda and Gabon in a joint campaign.

Mrs Jeannette Kagame of Rwanda and Mrs Sylvia Bongo Odimba write in the Africa Review magazine that as conflicts escalate, â€œwomen are regrettably often the first victims.â€

â€œHaving lost their husbands, they are stigmatised and abused, even though they are at the heart of any possible reconstruction and development,â€ say the First Ladies.

June 23 is International Widows Day, and Mrs Jeannette Kagame was in Gabon where she took part in festivities to mark the day at the invitation of her counterpart. It has been celebrated globally since its adoption in December 2010 by the UN.

â€œLet us not forget that it took over 150 years after the adoption of an International Women’s Day, in the early 19th century, for most women in the world to gain the right to vote, to have access to quality education and to perform the same jobs as men,â€ they say in their letter.

â€œIt is therefore not surprising that the International Widows Day marks only the beginning of a long struggle for the protection of these women, unjustly dispossessed and driven from their home by their in-laws, as is still the case in so many countries, and particularly in Africa and Asia.â€

The First Ladies give staggering figures to illustrate their concern. Out of 258 million widows worldwide, more than 115 million live in extreme poverty; some face ostracism, violence, deprivation of their homes, disease or legal and social discrimination; and 81 million have been sexually abused, while 1.5 million of their children die before their fifth birthday.

For full version of the article by the First Ladies click here Africa Review

Ibuka, the umbrella of Genocide survivors associations is engaging government of Rwanda and the United Nations (UN) to establish a fund that will support survivorsâ€ projects.

The umbrella suggests the reputation of the initiative to be an International Trust Fund for Survivors. Its baseline capitals should be raised from the genocide perpetrators assets and government coffers.

The United Nations and countries that failed to protect civilians during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda, including France should also pledge funds to support the cause of survivors who lost not only their relatives, but also their properties.

On June 23, while attending the 22nd commemoration of Genocide against Tutsi in Huye district, southern province, Professor Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, the president of Ibuka told mourners, â€œUN has recognized the Genocide against Tutsi; it should therefore support the fund.â€

He added, â€œFrance should also put in money.â€

On June 23, 1994 when the pressure of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Inkotanyi against the genocidal government intensified, France hastened its soldiers under Operation Turquoise.

Its objective included to facilitate the exit of the government to the then ZaÃ¯re, and to exterminate the Tutsi all along their way.

This would explain the reason why Butare prefecture is leading the top five prefectures where many Tutsi were exterminated.

The 2004 National census of the Genocide victims indicate that, of the 1,074,017 Tutsi who were killed during the Genocide, 220,996 victims representing 20.7% were from Butare prefecture.

Gitarama and Gikongoro also on the road to Kamembe-an exit to Bukavu are also among the top five with 12.1% and 10.3% respectively.

Ibuka also proposes that properties of the Genocide perpetrators should also be sold to support the fund.

â€œLike the houses of Felicien Kabuga-they should be sold,â€ said Dusingizemungu.

Still on the run, Kabuga, a city mogul during the Genocide is alleged to have provided important financial and material support to the government, to execute the Genocide.

Survivors say the fund should not be taken as a favor to them, but â€œits part of the reparation which is legitimate,â€ he said.

Currently, Rwanda supports the vulnerable genocide survivors in areas of education, medication, shelter and project financing under the Genocide Survivorsâ€ Fund (FARG in French acronyms).

The country spent over Rwf 190 billion from 1998 to 2015 to support Genocide survivors under FARG.

However, Ibuka wants the International Trust Fund for Survivors to benefit all survivors whether they are poor or wealth through application for development projects.

Dusingizemungu said that consultations have started, and they will push to have positive outcome.

Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye told News of Rwanda, â€œIbuka consults us on many things. As on that fund, I will have to listen to their proposal before taking any position whatsoever.â€

]]>http://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/31380/ibuka-roots-for-trust-funds-to-support-genocide-survivors/feed/0Measures against graft are rewardinghttp://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/31375/measures-against-graft-are-rewarding/
http://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/31375/measures-against-graft-are-rewarding/#respondSat, 25 Jun 2016 11:53:30 +0000http://www.newsofrwanda.com/?p=31375I had a brief meeting with my Asian friend Radjef (not real name) who is on a business trip to Rwanda and he was quick to ask â€œHow has Rwanda been able to fight corruption?â€

It is amazing to find a corruption-free country especially in Africa. He exclaimed.

Â

In attempting to find an appropriate answer for my friend, I started with the golden principle that has helped our country. Rwanda is well known on the African continent and beyond for her â€˜zero-toleranceâ€ policy on corruption and related offences, thanks to the exemplary leadership that has provided an unwavering drive, well established institutions and the legal framework. I explained.

At the fore front of the battle against corruption and embezzlement is our president, our role model – His Excellence Paul Kagame. To him, Rwandaâ€s leadership is driven by the ambition to improve the lives of Rwandans.

In one of President Kagame’s speeches he said and I quote, â€œRwanda does not fight corruption to please others. It fights corruption because the leadership believes resources should benefit all Rwandans. Rwanda did not choose the path of development to win a prize or please anyone but ourselvesâ€.

In line with combating corruption, a number of institutions have been established and one of them is Rwanda National Police. The young but vibrant force has since its inception instituted several strategies and mechanisms to eliminate this vice.

It is amazing how Rwanda Police believes in high quality service delivery and customer relations as one of the effective pro-active measures against corruption and related malpractices and has thus invested along this line, yet this approach has yielded significantly.

As the saying goes; â€˜Charity begins at home.â€ To effectively fight corruption, Rwanda National Police started from within, to create a corrupt-free force.

Prior to entry into service, Police Officers are well selected considering their conduct, discipline and academic background among other key factors. Thereafter, they are given professional training with morals and values which include fighting corruption and related tendencies among others. For force members, it is a known culture that corruption is intolerable and whoever associates with it, automatically becomes a non-member â€“ zero stance.

The establishment of a fully-fledged department of Inspectorate of Services and Ethics (ISE) was to enforce that. The department is mainly responsible for fighting corruption, inspection, internal audit and ensuring professionalism among other key responsibilities. The department carries out thorough research on corruption tendencies from within and outside the Police force.

Corruption in RNP attracts heavy penalties, including dismissal from the force. A number of them have since been dismissed.

Smart Policing also known as IT-led Policing is a modern approach the force has adopted to distance both citizens and officers from likely temptation. The move to have the registration of driverâ€s license tests online has been instrumental in combating corruption.

Officers no longer have direct contact with money paid by driverâ€s license seekers as the latter register online and pay directly on a provided bank account.

The new online registration system coupled with multiple automated services have reduced the number of officers who would be deployed across the country to register candidates and â€˜collect registration fee, from hundreds to only two officers who oversee and operate the online system.

Partnerships and Social Media have contributed much to combat corruption and to support other Policing Operations. The force conducts countrywide awareness campaigns, has distributed suggestion boxes up to lowest level of governance (Village). Toll-free lines â€“ 3511, 997 and 112 â€“ were also established for all members of the public to report any graft-related act, and give timely information in relation to the vice.

Besides, the force has also invested in motivating the Police Officers. Rwanda Police provides transport facilities, housing schemes, health insurance and the famous duty free-Armed Forcesâ€ Shop among other welfare schemes. Undoubtedly, this is not an easy shift, however, a milestone has been achieved and the force is still en-route, focused towards excellence.

Police is responsible for investigating corruption cases and bringing those involved to justice.

Everyone who is suspected to be involved in corruption and related malpractices directly or indirectly, is investigated, prosecuted and tried before the competent courts of Law.

According to Law No. 23/2003 of 07/08/2003 on corruption and related offences especially in its articles 10 to 27 provides for penalties including a term of imprisonment ranging from two to five years and fines depending on the nature and circumstances under which the offence was committed.

Like the saying goes, Rome was not built in one day. Rwanda has had a journey to move in order to attain such noble objectives. There may be one or two that will still tilt from the core mission and vision of the country, but it will be an individual case not an institution and even then, such individuals are dealt with in accordance to the law.

Fighting corruption remains a collective responsibility for us all, and for sure, the measures are rewarding so far.

The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) president Vincent Nzamwita has been cleared of any corruption and nepotism charges linked to the tender for the construction of the planned 88-room FERWAFA Hotel.

Initially, the prosecution had requested the Nyarugunga Primary Court to give a three-year sentence and a fine of Rwf3 million to Ferwafa president Nzamwita, secretary-general Olivier Mulindahabi and a consultant, Eng. Adolphe Muhirwa over alleged malpractices linked to the tender for the construction of the planned hotel.

But the trio denied the charges and asked court to clear them arguing the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence.

On Friday afternoon, the Kicukiro District-based Nyarugunga Primary Court acquitted Ferwafa president Nzamwita on grounds that the prosecution had failed to provide enough evidence to convict him on both corruption and nepotism charges.

However, secretary general, Olivier Mulindahabi and the consultant Engineer Adolphe Muhirwa were each handed a six-month jail term for mishandling the project that was in the interest of the general public.

Mulindahabi and Eng. Muhirwa have been in custody since February on grounds that they awarded the tender based on favouritism, flouted procedures and had been involved in corruption. Their six-month jail term will expire on August 8, 2016.

The Expert Company Managing Director Protais Sebatabazi who was contracted to undertake the construction of the mega hotel was sentenced to six years in prison over forged documents which he presented in winning the construction tender.

The Construction of the Rwf4 billion-hotel with capacity to host three national teams is being partly funded by FIFA and loans from domestic banks.

Construction work started at the site located in Rukiri II, Remera sector shortly before the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which kicked off in Mid-January in Rwanda.

The construction works were divided into four phases, and the first phase was expected to end in April 2016 with completion of 40 rooms.

This project was set to cut down on the accommodation costs incurred by the Ministry of Sports and Culture (Minispoc) on Rwanda national teams as well as visiting national teams and it would also be open to the public as a means of income.

]]>http://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/31371/ferwafa-boss-nzamwita-cleared-in-hotel-tender-fraud-charges/feed/0Britain votes to break with EUhttp://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/31365/britain-votes-to-break-with-eu/
http://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/31365/britain-votes-to-break-with-eu/#respondFri, 24 Jun 2016 07:15:53 +0000http://www.newsofrwanda.com/?p=31365Britons appeared to have to shrugged off dire warnings that quitting the 28-nation European Union would create a budget hole requiring spending cuts and tax increases.

Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), Nigel Farage reacts at the Leave.EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London on June 24, 2016, as results indicate that it looks likely the UK will leave the European Union (EU).

Britain has voted to break out of the European Union, national media declared Friday, striking a thunderous blow against the bloc and spreading panic through world markets as sterling collapsed to a 31-year low.

Investors scrambled to sell the pound, oil and stocks as Britain took a lurch into the unknown, becoming the first country to quit in the EU’s 60-year history, a culmination of decades of suspicion over European aims of creating an ever-closer political union.

With results in for 350 of the 382 areas that took part across Britain, the result was 52 percent for “Leave” and 48 percent for “Remain”.

Britain’s national broadcaster the BBC and Sky News both predicted a clear victory for the “Leave” campaign.

Sterling plunged more than nine percent to $1.33, a 31-year low. World oil prices skidded by more than six per cent. Tokyo stocks plummeted by more than eight per cent and Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso called an emergency news briefing.

“Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day,” said top anti-EU campaigner Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, who promised Britons the chance to retake power from Brussels and rein in high immigration.

‘VICTORY FOR REAL PEOPLE’

“If the predictions now are right, this will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people,” he told supporters in Westminster.

A joyous crowd chanted back to him: “Out! Out! Out!”

At the rival “Remain” party in London’s Royal Festival Hall subdued supporters stood glued to TV screens clutching beers — some with their hands over their mouths.

Britons appeared to have to shrugged off dire warnings that quitting the 28-nation alliance would create a budget hole requiring spending cuts and tax increases once they lose unfettered trade access to the EU.

Their decision will undoubtedly re-awaken fears of a domino-effect ripple of exit votes in EU-sceptic members that could imperil the integrity of the bloc, already struggling with twin economic and refugee crises.

“The eurosceptic genie is out of the bottle and it will now not be put back,” Farage said.

Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders immediately called for a referendum on EU membership.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who led the ultimately doomed struggle to sway voters in favour of sticking with Brussels, will face immediate pressure to resign.

The bookmakers’ favourite to replace him is former London mayor Boris Johnson, a rival from within his ruling Conservative Party who was the “Leave” camp figurehead.

GOING IT ALONE

The result means the world’s fifth-largest economy must now go it alone in the global economy, launching lengthy exit negotiations with the bloc and brokering new deals with all the countries it now trades with under the EU’s umbrella.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has warned the EU will “not be bending over backwards” to help Britain in those negotiations. Analysts say it could take the island nation a decade to secure new trade accords worldwide.

In a worst-case scenario, the International Monetary Fund has warned that the British economy could sink into recession next year and overall economic output would be 5.6 per cent lower than otherwise forecast by 2019, with unemployment rising back above six percent.

Thousands of jobs in the City could be transferred to Frankfurt or Paris, top companies have warned. The Brexit camp argued that the business world will adapt quickly, however, with Britain’s flexible and dynamic economy buoyed by new economic partners and selective immigration.

The campaign has left Britain riven in two, marked by the brutal murder of pro-“Remain” British lawmaker Jo Cox, a mother of two who was stabbed, shot and left bleeding to death on the pavement a week ahead of the vote.

BRITISH UNITY THREATENED

The vote threatens the unity of the United Kingdom, too.

Two years after Scotland voted in a referendum to remain in the United Kingdom, its political leader First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a new independence vote is “definitely on the table” after Britain voted against the majority will expressed by Scots.

“Scotland sees its future as part of the EU,” Sturgeon told Sky News after the vote.

Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, is now faced with the prospect of customs barriers for trade with EU-member the Republic of Ireland. Irish republicans Sinn Fein called for a vote on Irish unity following the referendum.

Leaders of Europe, born out of a determination to forge lasting peace from the carnage of two world wars, will open a two-day summit on Tuesday to grapple with the British decision.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned this month that a British departure would be a shock requiring quick action to avert the “disintegration” of the bloc.

“Small countries that are economically at least as affluent as the UK are the main ones at risk, especially Denmark and potentially also Sweden,” said Carsten Nickels of the Teneo analyst group in Brussels.

Immigration and an erosion of economic security have become rallying cries for populist challenges that remain scattered across in Europe, just as they have for Donald Trump’s campaign in the US presidential election.

The bloc will have to learn lessons not only from events in Britain but from the rest of Europe, Juncker said ahead of the referendum, warning against a rapid push for more integration.

Rwandaâ€s minister of Defence GeneralÂ James Kabarebe has said that the west are tactfully using accusations against Rwanda to advance their interests, something he says the county will not accept.

While speaking during a symposium on peace security and justice themed â€˜Confronting the merging security challenges rethinking strategyâ€ at Police headquarters in Kigali on Thursday General Kabarebe noted that the west has resorted to erroneous human rights accusations as a new tool to press forward their interference.

â€œForeign interference has changed according to globalization which is getting more sophisticated compared to colonialism,â€ said.

Â Rwanda has been accused on several occasions for abusing human rights, interfering in the neighbouring DRC as well as the recent accusations that the country is arming Burundi rebels, which the government has denied.

The one day symposium was held under the theme, â€œForeign interference on Africa is much easier than before simply because African handed themselves in for exploitation,â€ he further added.

The Minister said despite the accusations Rwanda will continue to focus on the development and provide less time for the people who want to divert the country from its agenda.

â€œDuring the post Genocide situation, Rwanda has confronted many challenges and learned to say no where it due,â€ said the Minister

The symposium was organized for participants of the fourth police senior command and staff course which has taken over a year and attracted police officers from different countries in Africa.

Musa Fazil Halerimana, Minister of Internal security said that the dynamics in the region are characterized by security threats such as terrorism and national organized crimes affecting each individual country.

â€œThis requires police officers to be equipped with necessary analytical tools and deeper understanding to national regional as well as global security landscape,â€ he said

He adds, â€œI have no doubt at the end o f this symposium, participants will be able get more and be better informed of the dynamics of the changing security environment.â€

The commandant of National Police College CP Felix Ntamuhoranye says that the symposium is aimed at deepening participant grasp on issues around security and peace with new and dynamic era.

â€œWe are aiming at imparting them quality skills in relation to strategic command professional policing quality skills in relation to executive leadership and strategic management,â€ he said.

It was 15hrs on Thursday 23 June 1994 when 400 French elite commandos entered Rwanda through Cyangugu prefecture from Bukavu in DR Congo. France had lined up a total of 3,060 men from the best units of it army aided by some 508 African troops. Up until August 2, French soldiers raped Tutsi women, opened corridor for fleeing genocide militia and prevented RPF rebels from pacifying the region.

Genocide survivors, militia, former members of the government army and local villagers of Cyangugu region (now part of western province) give a particularly gloomy picture of the French action during its two months presence. Investigations about French actions have been documented by a French parliamentary inquiry â€“ much of which have been corroborated by two year investigation by a government of Rwanda commission.

French soldiers simply looked on as interahamwe militias killed Tutsis. On arrival in the region, French soldiers took over control of Nyarushishi camp for thousands of internally displaced. Victims narrate how French soldiers subjected them to atrocious sexual slavery.

Elsewhere in town, many victims talk about collaboration between French soldiers and the killers to bring them very young Tutsi girls to rape, whom they then threw back in the street knowing very well that they were likely to be killed. Finally, various witnesses tell how French soldiers strongly incited the population to flee to Zaire.

Gaspard Nteziryimana received military training from French soldiers so as to be a member of the â€œred bandsâ€, a group of auxiliaries of the French soldiers. After being assaulted by the Interahamwe and left for dead because he had hidden Tutsis, the French soldiers forced him to accuse the RPF while they were filming his declarations.

Genocide survivor Alphonsine Mukakarangwa recounts how French soldiers forced her, and her mother, out of the health centre where they were treating them when they learnt that they had been victims of the Interahamwe. Those French dropped them at a roadblock manned by Interahamwe.

She narrates: â€œThe French came in the afternoon and Col Bavugamenshi ordered dance for them. Upon their arrival, the French soldiers had a tour of the camp and took photos. After three days, the French soldiers had identified places in the camp where they could find young ladies. From the fourth day, those who had identified places where to find the young ladies came back with other French soldiers and took the ladies to their tents and raped them.â€

The above shows actions of the French army in the triangle of Gisovu, Gishyita and Karongi and Bisesero hills which was in the middle of the triangle as well as Rubengera village. After setting up the aforementioned COS detachments, Kibuye prefecture constituted the northern unit of the Turquoise, commanded by Colonel Sartre with headquarters in Kibuye.

This event was widely published since it occurred in the presence of foreign reporters and many Rwandans witnessed it. The key fact is that the French army waited for three days before starting the rescue operation for the Bisesero survivors and the army does not contest that fact. However, the reasons behind the delay are the cause of controversy.

The Bisesero case is composed of two episodes, the first is the fact that French soldiers abandoned survivors at Bisesero; the second is that French soldiers refused to intervene during the three days of massacres yet they were only 5 kilometres from the camp. Lastly there are two additions to the Bisesero case, following the French intervention the poor treatment of genocide survivors at Bisesero and the poor medical care of the injured that were transferred to Goma by the French military doctors.

Bisesero survivors say that following their meeting with the French soldiers, attacks increased during the three days that preceded their return. According to Bisesero survivors, at the time when they met Diego they were around 2.000 survivors, and after three days of intensive massacres, only 800 people survived.

Pascal Nkusi, a Bisesero survivor too, was also present at the meeting with Diego.

â€œThe following day, they [the French] did not come but we saw a helicopter hovering over the place. From that day, attacks became more intensive and there were more dead people, because almost all of us had come out of our hiding places. [â€¦] On the third day, attacks continued and around 14h00 or 15h00, the French finally arrived.â€

Tchad President Idriss Deby received by Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo at Kigali International Airport

Idriss Deby Itno, the President of Tchad and current chairman of African Union arrived in Kigali, Rwanda Wednesday morning to witness preparations for the Head of States summit in July.

Rwanda has for the past months scaled up final works on mega infrastructure projects that will host the AU summit. The government says all the venues will be ready on time.

The Kigali Convention Center which cost $ 300 millionÂ will host the summit’s inaugural event. The facility includes among others the 5-star Radisson Blu Hotel, an impressive meeting hall with a 2500-seater capacity and several halls for side events.

Hoteliers have also been working hard to put their services to the international standards, while new others are mushrooming to reap big from the continental event.

Louise Mushikiwabo Rwandaâ€s Foreign Affairs Minister on June 13 travelled to Tchad to update president Deby on the progress preparations.

â€œI indicated to the president that we are at final phase of preparations. Rwanda is ready for the summit,â€ she said.

Djeneba Diarra, the Secretary General of AU Commission earlier in March travelled to Kigali to evaluate Rwanda’s readiness to host this historic conference.

â€œWe were extremely impressed by speed and sense of urgency the Kigali teams are doing things to make sure all facilities are in place for a good conference. I am therefore confident that Rwanda is very prepared,” Diarra said.

Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma the chairperson of African Union Commission was in Rwanda recently and took a guided tour at the Convention centre. She told local media that she was satisfied with preparations progress.

Previously, Rwanda has successfully hosted important international events including; the just concluded Forum on Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the World Economic Forum on Africa in May.

Last year, Rwanda also hosted the 50th African Development Bank (AfDB) summit, a major event on the continent.

Police in Bugesera District have arrested a 28-year old man for allegedly impersonating government officials and conning refugees promising to take them abroad.

Yves Karambizi was arrested on June 20 following formal complaints filed at Nyamata Police station by victims, who alleged masquerading as an official from the Ministry of Local Government and giving them forged travel documents under pretence that he was to take them abroad under a similar refugee programme.

According to the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, Karambizi was arrested at a hotel in Bugesera where he had just received more money from another victim.

â€œHe could deceive refugees that he works at the Ministry of Local Government and that he could get them travel document at a certain fee. He was giving them forged travel documents with forged signatures,â€ IP Kayigi said.

By the time of his arrest, Karambizi had conned three people of Rwf490, 000, IP Kayigi added.

â€œKarambizi was lying to his victims that he would get them visas and air tickets to Sweden. Investigations have so far established that he has even never been an employee in the Ministry of Local Government, but we are still investigating to find out if there are other people victims,â€ he said.

IP Kayigi noted that impersonation, like any other crime, is an ill-advised attempt and a serious crime as stipulated under article 609 of the penal code.

It states that any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine ranging from Rwf300,000 to Rwf3 million.

Police in Kirehe District have burst a racket of suspected cattle thieves arresting six in the district and neighboring areas.

Among the suspects in police custody include two men identified as Phocas Sikubwabo and Emmanuel NgaboÂ who were caught red-handed on June 15 with three stolen cows.

The friesian cows belonged to one Theogene Bizimungu and had been stolen from his kraal the previous night.

According to the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the arrest of the two suspects on June 15 led the police to the whereabouts of the other four other members of the ring.

â€œThe two suspects were attempting to take the cows to Tanzania but the sailors who saw them hurriedly called the police and they were arrested before crossing; we have since returned the cows to the owner,â€ said IP Kayigi.

He thanked and urged the residents on borderlines to maintain the spirit and always report anything suspicious to prevent any likely crime and arrest culprits.

Upon receiving his cows Bizimungu thanked the police for returning his cows and arresting the suspects.

The other four suspects, who are alleged to have been part of several cattle theft in the district, were identified as David Sabina, Joram Pesayidi, Emmanuel Nkurunziza, and Japhet Habyarimana alias stamina.

They are all held at Kirehe police station as investigations proceeds. They are accused of being behind series of cattle theft in Kirehe.

A total of having stolen 103 cows in Nyamugali, Mahama and Nyarubuye sectors over the years of which 53 of them have so far been recovered and given back to rightful owners, according to police in Kirehe.

IP Kayigi reminded residents of the Eastern province to always provide timely information so that police can intervene in time to recover the stolen livestock.

â€œWe appeal to residents to enhance neighbourhood watch and Irondo â€“ night patrols â€“ which have played a vital role in crime detection and prevention.â€

The suspects risk a jail sentence of up to two years if found guilty as stipulated by article 300 of the penal code.

The article states that, â€œAny person who commits theft without violence or threat shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of two to five times the value of the stolen property or one of these penalties.â€

Rwanda national cricket team captain, Eric Dusingizimana ended his week-long trip to London, England on a promising note Â£120,000 worth of charity appeal was pledged to build the first cricket stadium in Rwanda.

Cricket is the fastest growing sport in Rwanda and Dusingizimana has become a celebrity at home after becoming the first Rwandan to hold a Guinness world record when he batted for 51 hours in the nets.

Paul Farbrace, the England assistant coach, arranged for Dusingizimana to join the team at their net session at Trent Bridge as they prepared for the one-day series against Sri Lanka.

It was the culmination of Dusingizimanaâ€s week-long trip to England that included a fundraising dinner at Lordâ€s at which around Â£120,000 was pledged to the charity appeal to build the first cricket stadium in Rwanda.

Some US$600,000 has already been mobilised toward the construction of the proposed arena to be located in Gahanga in Kigaliâ€s Kicukiro District.

â€œI was so excited about this trip, it was my first time to step foot in London, the home of cricket,â€ said Dusingizimana, adding that dining with Cricket greats was yet another milestone achievement in my life.

The current Guinness world record holder for the longest hours (51) batting nonstop and national team skipper will join other cricket greats across the world for the dinner including the current cricket players and ex-internationals such as Brian Lara, former England National cricket team captain David Gower, West Indies Garry Fobers, Micheal Vowghan, and the current England national women Cricket Team captain Heather Knights, among others.

The Rwanda Cricket Stadium Trust has signed a partnership with Surrey to become the county clubâ€s overseas charity partner. Surrey have donated Â£10,000 and pledged to commit a further Â£40,000 over the next five years.

Work has also now begun on the new ground, with bulldozers last week clearing the site for the start of construction. It is hoped the ground will be open by March 2017.

Rwanda became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2003 â€“ the third tier of the international game â€“ and play in the African Division Two against the likes of Sierra Leone and Mozambique. The womenâ€s game is thriving and members of the menâ€s team work as coaches in Kigali schools.

They have to play all their international matches abroad because there are no grass wickets in Rwanda. The one pitch in the country is concrete with a matted covering, and bowlers can only bowl from one end because the bounce is dangerously uneven.

President Kagame Kagame was last in Morocco in November 2015 where he received MEDays Grand Prix

Rwandaâ€s Paul Kagame is undertaking an official two day visit to Morocco. This visit aims at underlining the close relationship between the two countries.

Today morning, the president took off to Morocco on King Mohammed VIâ€s invitation. These two are expected to discuss new approaches and new initiatives to fully deepen their friendship.

Morocco publications and political experts say, the visit will open a new chapter in the political and economic relations between the Morocco and Rwanda.

Kagame was last in Morocco in November 2015 where he received MEDays Grand Prix that was meaningful to him personally, as well as the people of Rwanda.

He recognized Moroccoâ€s increasing engagement around Africa and invited Moroccan investors and business people to do business in Rwanda adding that Moroccans, as the rest of Africans, are able to travel to Rwanda without a visa.

President Kagame also paid tribute to Morocco as a country with its own story as a part of Africa, not merely in terms of geography but much more importantly, intertwined lives and extensive shared experience.

This visit is coming after the U20 soccer teams of both countries played a Kwibuka 22 friendly match where they had a draw of 1-1.

A shocking new report from the UN reveals there are now more refugees on the Earth than ever before in human history.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says that by the end of last year 65.3 million people â€“ equal to the population of France â€“ had been forced from their homes by poverty, war or persecution.

And half of them are children, many separated from parents.

The agencyâ€s annualÂ Global TrendsÂ report, published on Monday â€“ World Refugee Day â€“ says one person in every 113 is a refugee, in â€œa level of risk for which UNHCR knows no precedent”.

With continuing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine, the Mena region accounts for more displacement than any other region.

This is the first time the worldâ€s refugee population has exceeded 60 million, and it is a sharp rise of almost 10 per cent over the 59.5 million in 2014.

If refugees were the citizens of a single country, it would be the 21st largest nation in the world.

The rate at which the problem was increasing was almost incomprehensible, said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. â€œEvery minute 24 people flee their homes,” Mr Grandi said. â€œThis is a striking, striking figure.”

There were 98,400 asylum requests from children who were alone, the largest number recorded by UNHCR â€œand a tragic reflection of how global forced displacement is disproportionately affecting young lives”.

It has always been dangerous to be a refugee, â€œbut these days those risks have increased”, Mr Grandi said.

â€œThink of the refugees that have to cross thousands of kilometres of desert in hardship with a lot of people threatening them. Think of women that face exploitation in order to reach places of safety.”

Equally threatening, he said, was â€œthe hostile xenophobic environment that is growing in rich countries and elsewhere”.

But the greatest danger, Mr Grandi said, was the desperation that symbolises the crisis: â€œWe have seen more deaths at sea of refugees and migrants in the last couple of years than we have ever seen before, in the Mediterranean, in the Bay of Bengal and other places.”

The crisis was highlighted last September when aÂ photograph of the drowned Syrian Alan Kurdi, 3, who washed up on a Turkish beach after a failed attempt by his family to cross from Turkey to Greece in a small boat, shocked people around the world.

Throughout last year, the report says, more than a million people arrived in Europe by sea, a four-fold increase on the previous year. Thousands died or were reported missing during these crossings.

The UNHCR classifies as refugees the record 40.8 million people who have fled their homes but who remain in their own countries, the 21.3 million who have sought sanctuary abroad and the 3.2 million looking for asylum in industrialised nations.

Countries with the largest amount of refugees who fled abroad included Syria (4.9 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million).

Even larger numbers were internally displaced â€“ Syria, 6.6 million and Iraq, 4.4 million. But at the top of the table is Colombia, where 6.9 million people remain displaced by that countryâ€s decades-long civil war.

Yemen, where 2.5 million people, or 9 per cent of the population have been forced from their homes by civil war, was the biggest source of new internal displacement last year.

More than 80 UAE service personnel have lost their lives in Yemen serving as part of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition supporting the government against an insurrection by Houthi rebels.

The report also highlights the burden on the â€œcountries of asylum”, the top 10 of which were all in developing regions. Turkey, with 2.5 million refugees, hosts the most, followed by Pakistan (1.6 million), Lebanon (1.1 million) and Iran (980,000). Jordan offers refuge to 664,000.

Although much of the focus is on events in the Middle East, the report is a reminder that crises in sub-Saharan Africa account for considerable suffering.

World leaders will gather at UN headquarters in New York on September 19 to discuss the refugee crisis and Mr Grandi said the single most important issue facing them was clear. â€œThe main action the international community that world leaders, especially powerful world leaders, must take is to join forces to stop war,” he said. â€œEverybody agrees wars have to be stopped. There is just no unity in that effort and that is the most important action we must take to stop forced displacement.”

In the meantime, Mr Grandi said, â€œwe need to improve the way we respond to mass movements of people, with longer-term approaches and much bigger resources”, but he was discouraged and concerned by hardening attitudes towards refugees in Europe.

â€œThis is dangerous,” he said. â€œThis has an effect on other parts of the world that look at Europe traditionally as the birthplace of the modern concept of asylum, as the region where asylum has traditionally been upheld in a very strong manner.”

Rwanda and Morocco Under-20 national football teams played a 1-all draw in the 2016 Genocide Memorial Match played on Saturday at Amahoro Stadium.

The game was played as part of Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA)â€s commemoration of the over one million lives lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Junior Wasps team was spiced up by sons of President Paul Kagame, Ian Kigenza Kagame and Bryan Cyizere Kagame who made their maiden debut for Rwanda national team.
Prior to the start of the game, Rwanda skipper Savio Dominique Nshuti, Morocco skipper Regradui Hamza and Ian Kigenza Kagame read key messages in Kinyarwanda, French and English to fans who were in attendance to honour this yearâ€s Genocide Memorial Match.

Striker Blaise Itangishaka put Rwanda ahead in the 1st minute as he powered a long shot past goalie Sidki Achraf following a defensive miscommunication from Morocoo U20 pair of Dari Achraf and Grib Aziz.

Coach Kayiranga Jean Baptista made an early substitution in the 27th minute when he brought in Park Udahemuka for Ian Kigenza Kagame to beef up the teamâ€s attacking options.

Morocco snatched an equalizer in the 43rd minute when Hicham Boussoufiane equalized from Dari Achraf cross with both teams heading into recess tied on a 1-all draw.

At the start of the second half, Morocco U20 coach Dutchman Mark Wotte beefed up his side with five substitutions namely; Sioudi Aissa, Abdelhadi Boumzairig, Mohamed Elmorabit, Anass Nouader and Anas Jabroun respectively.

Nyungwe forest national park is the countryâ€s largest â€“ and government hopes tapping its trees and other forests, would go some way to bring down the biting trade deficit

The government is hunting for investors in the forestry sector to end what natural resources minister Dr Vincent Biruta calls â€œhuge amountâ€ spent on importing wood products.

The import bill for wood and its bi-products reached Rwf 80billion ($102million) in 2015. It has been at around that level for years. Amid an exploding general trade deficit, the authorities are having less sleep.

At astakeholders forum this past week, ministerBiruta said there are many opportunities for investment in the forestry sector.

â€œWe are open to work with the private sector to manage our forests, improve their quality and ensure efficient use and value addition,â€ said Biruta.

â€œEvery year we spend a huge amount on importing wood products, even though we have â€˜Made in Rwandaâ€ forest resources here to utilise.â€

The biggest part of the import bill is pushed by imports of construction materials. And as more houses fill the skyline, more highend furniture is needed.In addition, a large section of the population still uses wood for cooking.

Up until 2013, Rwanda was importing even electric poles. That stopped with entryof New Forest Company (NFC), a UK firm with $ 60 million investment. NFC signed a-49 year concession agreement with Rwanda to exploit 12,000 hectares forest of Nyungwe buffer zone.

It produces 10,000 electric wooden poles annually, for both Rwanda and regional markets mainly Tanzania, according to JosephMunyarukaza, from NFC who spoke to KT Press in June last year. A wooden pole costs up to Rwf100,000 ($140)

However, even as government is desperate for investors, environment officials say that doesnâ€t mean a blank cheque has been issued for erasing the countryâ€s forest cover.

At the forum in Kigali, delegates were calling for efficient technologies that require use of less wood to get highest benefit.

For example, Claude Mansell from Inyenyeri, a local energy services firm, said using wood pellets for tea production was 80% more efficient than ordinary wood fuel.

A Korean businessman has introduced the mobile poultry cage system likely to transform poultry farming in Rwanda.

The cage system enables poultry farmers to rare many chicken on small land and systematically cutting down on related diseases mostly facilitated by contact with ground.

San Ju Parkin November 2015 registered Gorilla Feed Company in Rwanda. His company was interested in production of over 600 tons per month of livestock feeds.

However, five months ago, his clients complained that space to grow their business was still challenging.

â€œWe introduced the poultry cage system which can work from anywhere, even in a smaller home space in the congested Kigali city,â€ said Ernest Habimana, the Gorilla Feed co sales Manager.

He says the chicken are placed in built storied cages, allowing them to be raised without any contact with the ground, the source of most ofÂ chicken diseases.

The cages measure 40square centimeters hosting 3 chicken, and a clientsare free to choose as many cages as they wants. An inbuilt cage system of 6 square meters can accommodate between 90 to 120 chicken. It costs Rwf 200,000.

Chicken experts say, the existing system of a farming area where you raise 100 chickens on ground, can accommodate 250 chickens in a cage system.

How to feed chicken in cage system

In the cage system, the chicken will spend most its life span in air. The cage system offers a better technology of feeding; every floor of cages is surrounded by a feeder, where a farmer places chicken feeds.

It also contains a water system whereby a small water container at every floor is connected to a pipe that is installed around cages upper side. Pipes are installed with small taps where the hen drinks water by just pecking.

â€œFeeding from the cages protects chicken from diseases that affect chickens from the ground,â€ says Peter Shabayiro, a chicken specialist at Gorilla feeds.

On the ground, chicken stay in wood dust which offers favourable conditions for growth of chicken parasites.

Once in the wings, mites suck chicken blood and inhibit growth, said Shabayiro.

Lack of sufficient cleanness from the ground can also cause diarrhea in the poultry.

Shabayiro indicates that lay breeder chicken is divided into four main stages of feeding including; chick starters from day one today six, then growers mash, pre-layers mash and layers mash at the 4th month when a chicken starts laying eggs every day for one year.

Their feeds increases from 10 grams to 150 grams per day and they mainly combine energy and protein nutrients.

â€œThe energy percentage in chicken feed formula increases with time, while protein goes decreasing,â€ said Shabayiro.

Among others, energy is brought by maize flour, while protein is contributed by soya flour.

Silver fish-ndagala- is not recommended because, Shabayilo says, they are a source of many diseases if their drying process was not handled with care to avoid moisture.

Storage of feeds with silver fish nutrients is also challenging because it is favorable to parasites.

Fed in favorable conditions and in cages, layers produce 5% of eggs the first week, meaning that in 100 chicken, only 5 will lay eggs.

Rwanda has successfully won a foreign land case after a ruling in Kenya’s High court.

In 1986, the Kenyan government under President Daniel Arap Moi offered Rwanda 32-acres of prime land near Mombasa port. Rwanda also offered 32-acres of land to Kenya in a property exchange deal.

However, Salad Awale a Kenyan businessman based in Mombasa had filed a law suit claiming ownership of the land.

The businessman claimed he acquired the land in 1986 and that was issued with a 99-years leasehold by Kenya’s lands ministry.

Kenyan High Court judge Anyara Emukule has however dismissed the suit arguing that Awaleâ€s title was not genuine as the details provided on the land differed with those stated on the landâ€s deed plan.

The judge also found that the Land ministry officer whose name appears on Awaleâ€s title has disowned the document.

â€œThe officer who allegedly issued Awaleâ€s title, has denied ever preparing the title,” justice Emukule said in the ruling.

He added thatÂ the documents produced by Awale were, upon cross-checking by the commissioner of land found to be forgeries. “The balance of probability is that the suit property was first allocated to Rwanda.â€

The Kenyan high court has thus ordered Awale only 60 days from May 31 this year to vacate the land.

Sources in Mombasa say that Awale has been using the land for his trucking business and wanted Rwanda restrained from occupying the property.

Landlocked Rwanda was given the land for construction of warehouses to ease cargo handling for its traders using the Mombasa port.

Rwandan traders complain of high costs of warehousing in Mombasa that when a cargo container is not nominated into a warehouse of your choice, then there is a possibility of being ripped off through the ware house charges.

A trader may not receive the requisite free days, during which time, clearing is supposed to be concluded. Hence the need for Rwanda to maintain their own warehouse space to ease the pain of extra costs being loaded unnecessarily on their cargo.

At least 40% of Rwanda’s imports and exports transit through Kenya, and the warehouses are intended to offer Rwandan traders reprieve in terms of storage costs at the port.

On her arrival in Chad, Mushikiwabo was warmly welcomed by Idriss Deby and presented to him a message from President Paul Kagame.

In her remarks, Mushikiwabo said, â€œI am here to share with President Idriss Deby about preparations for AU summit and that Rwanda is ready to host the summit.â€

Rwanda is currently finalizing works on infrastructure ahead of the summit scheduled for July.

Chadâ€s presidency reported that this conversation was held for an hour in presence of different officials in the government.

After this 27th AU summit, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will step down at the end of her four-year term and the AU will choose its next chairperson.

More than 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the summit. About 50 African heads of state and their spouses, hundreds of senior government officials from across the continent, and heads of diplomatic missions are expected to attend the summit.

An advance team from the African Union Commission will be in Kigali to finalize the program.

He said, “I want us to work together to improve Rwanda forest sector. We want to do this with you, not just for you.”

According to Dr. Biruta investment in Rwanda’s forestry has huge opportunities. He proposes civil society organizations to work on forest management to build partnerships with the private sector.

Two specific issues that were addressed are seed use, management and make up of tree species for forestation which needs collaboration from all sectors.

One of the participants said that there are many ways for the private sector to work with civil society organizations Â and government to grow the forestry sector.

Biruta said, â€œThe idea of today’s dialogue is to ensure the private sector is with us from start to end, from policies & laws to implementation.”

The government’s future engagement with private sector will be guided by key principles including; competitiveness, stability and transparency.

In 2013, the Government of Rwanda through Ministry of Natural resources awarded the New Forest Company (NFC) a concession agreement of 49 years to manage, invest, and value the forest cover surrounding Nyungwe natural forest which would increase contribution of the sector to the national GDP.

Participants in the dialogue included private sector, government institutions, developments partners and other stakeholders.

Private sector in Dialogue with Rwanda government over investment opportunities in forestry

Rev. Pastor Jesse Jackson, the American civil rights activist and politician addressing Ruhunda residents yesterday. He described Rwandaâ€s President Paul Kagame as a visionary leader.

Yesterday, it was all cheers from the audience, caused by a rare statement from Rev. Pastor Jesse Jackson.

He said that when president Kagame goes to the to the United Nations people listen what he has to say and also when goes to America he is the most respected in the whole world.

Pastor Jesse made the statement while speaking during the launch of Coca-Cola EKOCENTER aimed at bringing sustainable markets closer to communities in Ruhunda.

Jackson also noted that the integrity of president Kagame has made Rwanda a great nation.

Below is Rev. Pastor Jesse Jacksonâ€s speech

Muraho (How do you do). Mr. President Kagame, Chairman Muhtar Kent, distinguished Ministers who are here today. Our first word is about your President.
President Paul Kagame walks in this placeÂ you cheer, you walk in the halls of African Union,Â people take notice; you come to the United Nations people listen what he has to say; you come to America he is the most respected in the whole world.

Whenever take the quality of leadership you have for guaranteed, the President has integrity, the vision he has, made great nation. What your presence agree on the rowdy applause! Let me say about Mr. Muhtar, Coca-Cola means more than refreshments.

Who is Rev. Pastor Jesse Jackson?
A 65 year-old from Greenville in South Carolina, Rev. Pastor Jesse Louis Jackson is an American Baptist Minister. Apart from it, he is known for civil rights activism in America as he founded the merger organization Rainbow-PUSH which later opened for him doors to the politics in the early 1980s and became the shadow US senator for the District of Columbia.

This manâ€s God as too many others Americans looked up to President Kagameâ€s feats and now heâ€s one of friends of Rwanda who yesterday attended the official launch of Coca-Cola developmental activities in Rwamagana District.

From Left: Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animals resources, Prime Minister of Rwanda Anastase Murekez together with Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. President of the African Development Bank.

The Rt Hon Prime Minister of Rwanda Anastase Murekezi has said that agriculture research is critical towards the development of the sector that currently employs over 65 percent of the continentâ€s population.

While opening the 7th Africa agriculture science and Forum for Agriculture research in Africa-FARA general assembly in Kigali on Monday, the Prime Minister emphasized Africa must employ agriculture technology to add value to production.

This sector is a crucial cornerstone to Africaâ€s economic transformation which needs to be treated as a business not a subsistence activity,â€ he said echoing the need increased Agribusiness investments.

The 7th agriculture week that is running under the theme â€˜Apply science impact livelihoodsâ€ is looking at how science and technology can be used to bolster sector growth and improve livelihoods of people.

Itâ€s a new opportunity for Africa to understand how science and technology can improve agriculture to improve the continentâ€s populations,â€ the Prime Minister Murekezi said.

Murekezi says that through collaboration between the government and scientists, Africa would go beyond the limits that are hindering its growth of the sector and shift science from school to the gardens.

Moreover, Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animals resources added research has been vital in developing high yield and disease resistant varieties as well as animal genetics improvements.

The countryâ€s agriculture sector which contributes a third of the GDP has recently been a focus of technology transformation.

On the sidelines of the Assembly, Michael Ryan, European Union head of delegation in Rwanda announced the Union will extend the government of Rwanda 200 million euros (approx Rwf 168 billions) to Rwanda to support agriculture nutrition, but didnâ€t not specify the date.

A weeklong of activities in the buildup to the 16th anniversary of Rwanda National Police (RNP) starts today with efforts directed towards raising awareness against child abuse, among other high impact crimes, across the country.

The week-long exercise dubbed â€˜Police Weekâ€, conducted in the context of Â community policing efforts, climaxes with the â€˜Police Dayâ€ onÂ June 16, the date when the Force was created in the year 2000.

The RNP was created as a merger of the former Gendarmerie Nationale, Communal Police, and the Judicial Police Inspectors, three uncoordinated entities that had the police mandate at the time.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Damas Gatare, the commissioner for Community Policing in RNP, police officers, as a norm, will be joined by the general population in various activities geared towards showcasing the importance of partnerships in crime identification and prevention.

â€œThis yearâ€s celebration activities will be held under the theme, â€˜Stand up for Child Protection.â€ This means that campaigns will be bent along the line of the theme to increase public awareness and responsibility to protect children and to enhance mechanisms for collaboration in service delivery and accountability,â€ said ACP Gatare.

The official launch of the â€˜Police Weekâ€, he explained, will be held at one identified Police Station in each province and the City of Kigali.

At the national level, it will be held at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.

â€œIn the course of the week, RNP will also hold a â€˜Police Open Dayâ€ because in all that we are doing we have to be accountable to the people, but along the way, the awareness campaigns will also tackle issues related to gender based violence, the emerging threat of human trafficking, drug abuse and road safety,â€ Gatare added.

16 years of partnership in policing

â€œToday, RNP is celebrating a milestone in the last 16 years of dedicated policing under the grand guidance and leadership of President Paul Kagame.â€

â€œThis landmark, that has made Rwanda one of the safest countries across the globe, where people feel safe at all times, can be traced in the RNPâ€s priority areas that include capacity building, community policing, crime prevention and reduction strategy, international cooperation and welfare and infrastructure development, among others.â€

Never Again Rwanda, a human rights and peace building organizationÂ has engaged a delegation of US students on the realities of genocide against Tutsi.

In 1994, Rwanda slipped into its darkest in a genocide that claimed over a million lives of ethnic Tutsi in just 100-days.

This year, Rwandans are observing the 22nd commemoration of the genocide against Tutsi under the theme â€œFighting the Genocide Ideologyâ€.

According to Florence Batoni, the Peace Building program Coordinator forÂ Never Again Rwanda,Â orientation of US students on the genocide will help them become Ambassadors in the fight against Genocide denial ideology.

â€œMost people outside Rwanda sometimes donâ€t understand the reality of genocide and this explains why some people have ideological thoughts because they are not aware,â€ Batoni said.

She added, â€œWe bring these studentsÂ from outside so thatÂ they can understandÂ our history and how genocide occurredÂ and see the reality of genocide in Rwanda.â€

Dr. Stephanie Wolfe, Assistant Professor, college of social and behavioral sciences at Weber State University says Rwandaâ€s initiative that also looks at genocide that happened in other countries gives students a practical approach towards conflict analysis and conflict prevention.

â€œThis shifts students from the classroom theory to reality on ground and prepares them to participate in peace building,â€ said Dr. Wolfe.

For Batoni, â€œWe need these students to monitor atrocities and genocide tendencies and language so that they can be empowered even when they are in leadership positions they are able to discern anything that can cause genocide.â€

Imani Grace Lewis-Norelle from Earlham College in US says Rwandaâ€s history projects an experience that would help international youth in fostering peace, reconciliation, transitional justice in societies.

â€œI think US can learn a lot from Rwanda especially in the judicial system where it more focused on punishment rather than cohesion after a conflict,â€ she said.

The US youths are attending the peace building Institute that aims at empowering young people with skills to prevent and overcome violence and ethnic divides while learning from Rwanda.

Students areÂ taken through the history of genocide against Tutsis, the post genocide society, transitional justice are expected to use the facts to tackle genocide denial.

Some key aspects that are under the concepts Rwanda is teaching the world include its homegrown post genocide traditional court system known as Gacaca.

Also, the Institute, a bi annual conference is an avenue for international, regional and Rwandan youth to discuss about the genocide committed against the Tutsis well as draw lessons learnt from it.

leaning from Rwanda’s experiences

The students are equipped with skills to fight against Genocide denial ideology

Police in Gakenke District have arrested a 25-year old man who was masquerading as medical doctor to solicit money from unsuspecting residents under the pretext that they would get medical care from foreign medical doctors.

At the time of his arrest on June 6, the suspect, who was found with a forged national identity card bearing a name of â€˜Nkurunziza,â€ had already conned two residents of Rwf60, 000.

â€œOn Monday, we received information from residents about a certain man calling himself Dr. Frank Mugisha from Kanombe Military Hospital and introducing a certain medical services that the hospital in partnership with doctors from abroad would be extending to the residents of Gakenke, but charging money from them as a prerequisite,â€ Inspector of Police (IP) Innocent Gasasira, Northern Region Police spokesperson, said.

â€œHe was telling residents that there is a team of expert doctors from USA who will be coming in the country to treat non-communicable diseases and asked them to pay Rwf30, 000 per head for registration so that they could benefit from the service,â€ he added.

IP Gasasira said investigations are still underway to establish the real identity of the suspect and to find out if there are other people that have fallen victims.

â€œPeople should be wary of anyone coming to them offering such services. Normally such services are provided from known places and by known people, not on the streets,â€ said IP Gasasira.

â€œThis is a criminal act of obtaining the property of another person by fraud and punishable under article 318 of the penal code.â€

It stipulates that â€œany person who, intentionally obtains a property belonging to another person fraudulently or by using false names or qualities, to give rise to hope or fear of harm and obtains a part or whole of a fortune shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million.â€

They were arrested on June 8 at a police checkpoint along Cyanika-Musanze road.

According to Northern Region Police spokesperson, Inspector of Police (IP) Innocent Gasasira, the suspects were found with 37 dozens of blue sky, 11 dozens of Kitoko Waragi, two dozens of coffee liquor and three dozens of Host Waragi, all illicit substances banned in Rwanda.

The suspects were also found with seven bottles of Uganda Waragi, 12 bottles of Bond 7 and two V&A bottles that had been smuggled into the country without paying taxes.

â€œResidents living around Cyanika border saw the four women loading the illegal luggage in a vehicle after crossing into Rwanda through a non-gazettedÂ border, they informed us and we immediately mounted a snap checkpoint where we arrested the quartet,â€ said IP Gasasira.

IP Gasasira went on to emphasize that under the current law on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, â€œany drink that exceeds 45 per cent of alcohol content or does not have the required quality for consumption, shall be considered as a narcotic drug.â€

â€œMost of the people we arrest in these operations are those that are very much aware that they are committing a crime. We have sensitized people against such substances over and over again but a few are still involved in this malpractice. Once again Rwanda National Police reminds anyone who is involved that we will not tire to ensure that such people are arrested to face justice,â€ he warned.

He appealed to the public to continue the spirit of partnership, which he said has been instrumental in prevention, detection, and fighting crime.

Border districts are major routes for drugs, illicit brew and contrabands smuggled or transiting through the country.

IP Gasasira pointed out that any person found with drugs or any of the mentioned substance is liable to punishment as stated in article 594 of the penal code.

The article reads in part that any person who unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rwf5 million.

â€œInstead of accusations, there should be negotiations to end violence and help refugees to go back home,â€ he said on Thursday during a press briefing shortly after a closed meeting with his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo.

Minister Reynders who arrived in Kigali on Wednesday from Tanzania says there is need for enhancement of negotiations while also allowing all parties including neighbours mentioned in the conflict to be involved.

This comes at the time relations between the troubled Burundi government and Rwanda continued to sour with the former accusing Rwanda of training and arming refugees to topple Bujumbura government.

The Minister is expected to hold talks with President Nkurunziza on Friday after holding talks with Tanzaniaâ€s president John Pombe Magufuli and former president Benjamin Mkapa, who is chairing Burundi talks.

On the Rwanda and Belgian relations, Minister Reynders says echoed his governmentâ€s commitment to encourage more Belgian investors to invest in Rwanda.

â€œDespite global challenges mainly in the economy, Belgium is committed to support RwandaÂ Â towards its development agenda,â€ he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said Rwanda committed towards contributing peace in the region.

â€œWe are ready to make our contribution in peace building in the region whenever we will be asked to do so,â€ she said.

The visit in the region will also look at the recent political unrest in the Democratic republic of Congo, which has recently witnessed oppositionÂ crack down as President Joseph KabilaÂ prepares referendum to allow him runÂ for third term.

Rwanda’s foreign affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo was in Brussels October last year where she held talks with counterpart Didier Reynders.

The Belgian Foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders has announced his diplomatic visit to Rwanda.

Didier Reynders who arrived in Rwanda today morning said that he is excited to be in Rwanda and looking forward to have different discussions within the country that will have a positive impact.

In his two day visit, he will have discussions with high level political leaders; meet the Belgian corporates established in Rwanda, visit and pay respect to Genocide victims laid at the Gisozi Memorial, he will share contacts with the Belgian community in Rwanda and lastly have discussions with civil society organization.

Indonesia has waived visa requirements for Rwandan nationals. According to an announcement, Rwandans will be granted a 30-day free visa that can be applied at immigration check points of Indonesia including; airports, seaports and land borders.

The 30 days are non-extendable and cannot be converted into another type of visa.

Anaclet Kalibata, Rwanda’s director general of immigration and emigration says the republic of Indonesia waived visa free to Rwandan nationals traveling to Indonesia with ordinary, diplomatic and service passport.

The waiver is intended for tourism, family, social, art and cultural, government visit, giving lecture, or attending seminar, attending meetings held by head office or representative in Indonesia office and transit to another country.

The republic of Indonesia is the first country on the Asian continent to cut off visa free for Rwandans.

According to Kalibata, Indonesia’s visa waiver for Rwandan nationals will stay â€œuntil further notice.â€

Indonesia has waived visa requirements after some African countries also reduced visa restrictions among them including; Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Seychelles, and Mauritius.

On average, Africans need visas to travel to 55% of other African countries and can only get visas on arrival in 25% of other countries. This means they can only travel to 20% of the countries without a visa says the African Development Bank.